(AN): I want to thank all who reviewed
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Seed or Destiny.
Chapter Forty-One
News
ORB Base West of Boaz
The guards were watching over the base when they saw two figures approaching from the north.
"What is it?" one asked.
The second looked, "Better inform the captain."
The man nodded and instantly went to retrieve the captain, a few minutes later the captain returned and looked in the direction of the two approaching figures. It was still dark almost morning.
Kira and Lacus saw the base and had a sigh of relief, they steadily approached the base.
The captain continued to look as the figures stopped their horses in front of the main gate, the guards were already surrounding them, most were young and didn't know there King's face.
Kira and Lacus came to a stop as the knights were cautious of them, Kira smiled as he saw the captain approaching him.
The captain wasn't expecting any visitors which made him naturally cautious. He went to the front gate with two younger knights behind him.
"You think this is a trap captain?" one asked.
The captain looked at him, "Anything is possible, just stay on your toes."
They agreed with them and followed them closely when there captain instantly stopped causing them to run into him.
They were a little confused when they saw the captains eyes grow wide.
The guards had there swords ready, but an angry shout from the captain made them withdrawal.
"Stand down at once!" the captain shouted.
All turned to look at him, Kira smiled as he knew this man well. The captain walked near his horse and kneeled down. All knights were confused at his actions, until he spoke.
"Your Majesty, it brings us great honor for your presence here," The captain said as all other knights stared at this man in shock. After a few moments they all kneeled down as well staring at their King in awe.
Kira smiled and got down off his horse, "It has been to long captain." Kira told him as he helped Lacus down from her horse as he always did.
The captain looked up at him, "I apologize for this sire, we were not informed of a visit from you."
Kira walked over to them, "Rise all of you," Kira told them as all knights got up and looked at there King.
Kira looked back at the captain, "This was not a planned visit captain, just a little get away." Kira lied as Lacus held his arm trying to make it look convincing.
The captain looked at Lacus, "Ah…this must be Lady Lacus."
Lacus was surprised a bit, but by know everybody in the Kingdom knew of her.
Kira looked at him, "Yes it is, however we are a bit exhausted," Kira said trying to hide the reason they were there.
The captain looked at him, "Strange I could have swore you came in from the north…well anyway we are honored to have you here, how long will you be around Your Highness?"
Kira looked at him, "I will be heading out later this afternoon, I have something important to take care of." Kira told him as he remembered what he did.
The captain nodded, "We will put you up in the command tent sire, I will shift the guards to make sure of your safety."
Kira smiled, "It's not necessary, just pretend were not here." Kira told him as he left with Lacus not far behind.
The captain watched him, they heard a bunch of rumors how the King had lost his mind, but after seeing him normal, he figured that was all they were, and he was glad. The rest of the knights were happy to see their King, especially the younger ones who were about his age. They reached where they could rest for a little bit and they did.
They went inside the tent that was quickly transformed into a place of comfort for the King. Kira stood by the opening looking around and Lacus embraced him from behind.
"You still have that feeling don't you?" Lacus asked.
Kira smiled, she could read him like always.
"I know it's probably nothing, but I won't feel better until we are in Onogoro." Kira replied.
Lacus rested her head on his back, "I understand, but for now you must rest." Lacus almost sounded demanding.
Kira smiled, "Is that an order My Lady?"
Lacus smiled, "If that is what it takes yes it is."
Kira turned around out of her embrace and kissed her. After awhile they broke it and Kira looked at her again.
"You know I can never deny your requests, and you love to throw them around don't you?" Kira asked jokingly.
Lacus looked at him, "That is right, know rest."
Kira smiled and let Lacus lead him away from the door back into the tent.
Boaz
Things were not that easy going that day in Boaz, the town inside was well aware of what was going on around outside, panic and fear over took the people as the knights inside the city scrambled to get to there positions. Athrun was doing a good job for the preparations for the defense, but he knew well no attack would take place until dark. Athrun looked at the massive army surrounding his fort and knew that even though the fort was one of the best in ORB, with time the enemy would be able to get in. He had to hope only for the messenger he sent would make it to reinforcements in time.
Outside the city Dearka was doing the same thing, they were using the day to finish moving everybody in to there positions; it was a mountainous region so moving the equipment wasn't easy. Dearka already planned that he would make no attack until dark, when he could use both his long and short range archers. As the evening hours fast approached Dearka called one more meeting, to discuss the strategy.
ORB Base West of Boaz
As the evening hours fast approached, Kira and Lacus still had not left. In fact they weren't even awake. The exhaustion from the past days was heavier on them than they thought. The captain knew that something was not right, but he left it alone.
When it was nearly dark, the messenger Athrun sent had arrived, normally it would not take this long; however he had to go the long way to avoid any contact with ZAFT Knights.
The man saw the base and was glad he made it; He immediately rushed to the front gates. The guards stopped him, but they regionalized him as one of their own.
The man stopped his horse by the front gate, "I need to speak to whoever is in command of this base!" the man shouted.
The guards looked at each other, and one went to find the captain, a few minutes later the captain returned with him.
"What is going on?" the captain asked.
The messenger looked at him, "Sir our border base to the east was destroyed and Boaz is under attack!" the man shouted again.
The captain looked at him seriously, "Attack how?"
The messenger looked at him, "There army is massive, Boaz will be outnumbered we must get help from Onogoro, the road was blocked so Lord Athrun informed me to come here."
The captain remembered something, "I don't think you will have to go to Onogoro."
The messenger got confused, "Sir, the King must be informed of this and we need there assistance."
The captain smiled, "The King is here, so I don't think you'll have a problem get those reinforcements."
The messenger looked shocked and a little relieved.
The captain looked at him, "Come with me and tell him exactly what's going on."
The messenger instantly got off his horse and followed the captain, the mood around the camp changed when they heard what was going on in Boaz. The captain stopped him and since this was an emergency he went inside the tent. The captain walked in to find them both sleeping on a cot they had quickly set up for him earlier, Lacus was resting on his chest as Kira's one arm was wrapped around her. The captain had no choice but to wake him as it was an emergency.
"Your Majesty we have a situation," the captain said loudly hoping they would wake, and they did.
Kira heard someone shouting and looked over at the captain, "What…what's going on?" Kira asked trying to wake up. Lacus also stirred and opened her eyes never breaking the embrace she had on him.
"My Lord, I apologize but we have a major situation, a messenger from Lord Athrun has arrived." the man told him.
Kira looked at him, "Well, what did it say?"
The captain frowned, "Sir our eastern border base was annihilated, and a massive ZAFT army is attacking Boaz as we speak."
Kira sat straight up as Lacus did as well with worried looks on their faces.
"They are under attack, how big of a force?" Kira asked.
The captain looked at him, "I have not all the details sir, the messenger should explain all of it."
Kira instantly stood up, grabbed his sword and left the tent, with Lacus right behind him.
Kira walked out and the messenger knelt, "No time for formalities, what is going on?" Kira asked concerned.
The messenger looked at him and explained everything Athrun told him and everything he saw.
Kira looked at him, "Boaz fort is strong, but it will not be able to withstand a force like that forever."
The messenger and the captain looked at him.
Kira turned around and went back inside the tent, all were a little confused at his actions, but a few minutes he returned with an unsealed letter. Kira rolled up the letter and used the ring of ORB he wore to seal the letter with a little wax. Kira than handed the letter over to the messenger.
The man took the letter and was still a little confused.
Kira looked at him, "Head to Onogoro and give that letter to Sir Mu La Flaga, I authorize the royal guard and five battalions of Onogoro's elite force to head here."
The man was still confused that he didn't want them to head to Ongoro.
Kira smiled as he was able to tell what the man was thinking.
"They will head here, and I will personally lead them to Boaz," Kira told him.
All around heard what he had said, and the respect and awe they felt for their King doubled as they were all ready for battle.
The captain looked at him, "We will go with you My Lord."
Kira looked at him, "No, I need you to remain here, we can not let another base fall to ZAFT, and this attack on Boaz may only be a diversion so ZAFT can destroy our border bases."
The captain looked at him, "Wouldn't that mean that there knights at Boaz are just sacrifices."
Kira looked at him, "The ZAFT Emperor doesn't care how many he loses as long as he gets what he wants, but that is just a precaution, I believe ZAFT wants Boaz."
The captain agreed with him.
Kira looked back over to the messenger, "That the southern route and you will be able to reach Onogoro without delay, go." Kira told him.
The man smiled and got back on his horse, he wasted no time as he headed straight for Onogoro.
Kira looked back at Lacus who gave him the same look. Kira knew this was his fault, not that he saved Lacus he would never regret that, but if he took care of the border transfers better this would probably not have happened.
Boaz
Outside the Fort
Dearka called the meeting like he planned, all the squad leaders attended.
Dearka looked at him, "How are the preparations?"
A captain looked at him, "My Lord the catapults are ready and the first shot is already loaded, the slaves are useful in this part, as our knights will not bet warn out."
Dearka smiled, "How about my archers?"
Another captain looked at him, "My unit is in there range Sir, we have torches set up if needed."
Another captain looked at him, "My unit as well Sir, we are a bit closer but we should be fine in the dark."
Dearka smiled again, "Excellent, what about our infantry?"
The commander looked at him, "All three brigades are in their positions, and our cavalry will be useless so they will have to join the infantry."
Dearka nodded his head, "Perfect, all of you know the signals correct?"
All nodded in agreement.
Dearka looked at Sai, "Alright it's all yours."
Sai looked at all of them, "The attack will begin when it is complete darkness, our catapults will do most of the work, and our short range archers will join in, this will continue throughout the night, when the sun comes up our infantry will charge the wall, the walls are strong but the battering ram we made should give us a chance. Expect heavy losses from this, but that is acceptable." Sai was telling them as the commander didn't like what he said.
Sai then went on, "While the infantry tries to pound a hole in the gate and wall, our long range archers will take over as well. We will continue this until the gate comes down, whatever is left will charge in the city and the buster squad archers will stop there attack and charge as well, infantry will do the same, and we will take the city."
All heard that and were glad that it seemed like a good plan.
Dearka smiled, "We will go with that, alright the attack begins a dark, get to your positions."
All agreed and smiled as they left the tent, Dearka as well and he got in his position, waiting for the attack to begin.
Inside the fort
Athrun was inside making his preparations as well. The city was in panic, but he couldn't do anything about it yet. Athrun went to the front wall, and looked over the situation.
Boaz had two walls that went around the city, one surrounding the city, and another one surrounding that it gave the city extra protection from long range attacks. Athrun went to the outermost wall and the Aegis squad was doing the best they could to get ready. They had catapults of there own, but until the enemy got into the open they could not use them. There archers surrounded the wall, and waited for the enemy to come to the fort. The knights were in between the walls just in case they got through the wall, if the situation called for it they would open the first gate and let the Aegis infantry take it to sword to sword since they were experts in both styles of fighting. Athrun even had a surprise for the first wave if they made it past the first wall.
Athrun over looked the area, when one of his captains joined him.
"My Lord, all is ready," the captain told him.
Athrun looked at him, "Good, I believe they will start at dark, we cannot lose too many to the first night or we will never hold them."
The captain agreed, "We will fight for Boaz, and ORB sir, we will not lose this fort that has never fallen."
Athrun smiled, "I'm glad to hear that, because we are fighting for the princess as well."
The captain smiled, "I understand sir, and we will not lose for your future wife."
Athrun chuckled, "Is it that obvious?"
The captain smiled, "Yes it is sir, and we are all happy for you, which will give us another reason to fight our hardest."
"I have faith that we will win this battle, but it will not be easy." Athrun told him seriously.
The captain smiled, "Whoever said life would be easy My Lord, anyway I will return to my post and keep an eye open." the captain said as he started walking away.
"Stay alive," Athrun told him.
The captain looked back at him, "It has been an honor to serve you and Boaz sir, we will have to celebrate after out victory."
Athrun chuckled and turned his attention back to the massive army it was getting dark and Athrun knew this first night was critical.
Outside the Fort
As soon as darkness hit the sky Dearka smiled.
"It is time, give the signal," Dearka told a subordinate.
Since it was dark the man nodded his head and set a large cloth on fire, as soon as it was on fire, he went to the highest part of the mountain and waved it back and forth signaling the captains around the city.
They saw the signal and gave there men the order to fire.
To be continued…
(AN): I hope you liked this chapter; I want to get as detailed as possible with the battle so the next chapter will be out by Monday. Bye for now.